Meowmix, a former teacher, asked - What parts of teaching did you HATE, really, really hate, and which parts did you love? Was your first year so completely awful that you really didn't want to do it again?
I HATED the school politics...you know, administrators on power trips, how many hoops can we make our teachers jump through, "No Child Left Behind", etc. Hated IEP's and loads of totally unnecessary paperwork. The parents could also be difficult. Now, some were wonderful, but the ones who felt it necessary to write me nasty letters, or corner me during my planning period, because someone looked at their child wrong and I didn't FIX IT, or because I *gasp* had to correct their child's behavior? I could definitely have done without them.
I LOVED the first day of school...so clean and new, a fresh start every year. I love the promise that first day holds. I loved seeing the progress my kids made, and since I mostly taught kindergarten, the progress is BIG. I loved teaching them to read, and loved the kind sentiments of parents who appreciated me. I also enjoyed the creative outlet of teaching young children, and I enjoyed the friendships with my coworkers. And I really loved telling people, "I'm a teacher." It was a profession I was proud to be a part of, and hope to return to one of these days.
As for my first year? Mixed feelings on that. I was SO stressed out getting my room ready and learning all the teacher lingo (IEP, ODD, TAC, PLC, BD, EMR...there is an acronym for EVERYTHING), and so desperate to be PERFECT, that I had myself worked into a frenzy before the first day even BEGAN. I was also planning my wedding that year, and was driving an hour each way to a school located in a town I'd never even been to.
And then the first day? I was SOBBING by 10:00 a.m. (as soon as my kids left for P.E.). It was utter chaos...I told my kindergarteners to line up and they just wandered around, because they didn't know how, and I was supposed to TEACH them...I came home with bruises on my shins from a student who kicked me when I made him stand respectfully for the pledge...I didn't get through a quarter of the plans I'd so carefully made. I truly just cried my eyes out, knowing I had made a horrible, terrible mistake.
I had wanted to teach 4th grade, and here I was, stuck with FIVE year olds who've NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL! I wanted to TEACH, and here I was, showing them how to hold their lunch trays, tying shoes, and coloring. And it did not get a lot better...up until Christmas of that first year, I was crying every night and trying to figure out HOW I could get out of my contract. Seriously.
But the year went on, and I had no kids of my own, so I came early and stayed wayyyyy too late, worked on the weekends, and generally worked myself sick. My eyelids used to twitch constantly because I was so tired, and I have never had more illnesses than I did that first year - I succumbed to EVERY germ.
However, I also learned to appreciate what I was doing as a kindergarten teacher...I got them FIRST, before they could be discouraged with school, and could teach them a love for learning. I got hugs every day. I read them great children's literature. I taught them to read. I found fun ways to challenge them. I prepared them (very well, I think!) for a rigorous first grade curriculum.
But by the end of the year? I knew I had made the right decision. I cried and cried on the last day of school. Those kids are in seventh grade now, and a few of those parents from that class still send me Christmas cards, with letters and pictures. I had a connection with that class that I've never had with another class since. They taught ME how to be a good teacher...and let me tell you, they broke me in something GOOD.
Would I want to do it again? In a way, yes. When I think about that first year, what sticks out the most is how I was young, fresh, and idealistic. I knew I was going to "make a difference" in those kids' lives. I didn't yet know about school 'politics', or workroom gossip. I was full of energy, and I put an amazing amount of love and effort into my job that year.
Gosh, I don't know how to keep it short, do I?
Up next: MJD, Mrs. S, Silly Hily, and Keeper of the Cheerios...I have not forgotten you!
I HATED the school politics...you know, administrators on power trips, how many hoops can we make our teachers jump through, "No Child Left Behind", etc. Hated IEP's and loads of totally unnecessary paperwork. The parents could also be difficult. Now, some were wonderful, but the ones who felt it necessary to write me nasty letters, or corner me during my planning period, because someone looked at their child wrong and I didn't FIX IT, or because I *gasp* had to correct their child's behavior? I could definitely have done without them.
I LOVED the first day of school...so clean and new, a fresh start every year. I love the promise that first day holds. I loved seeing the progress my kids made, and since I mostly taught kindergarten, the progress is BIG. I loved teaching them to read, and loved the kind sentiments of parents who appreciated me. I also enjoyed the creative outlet of teaching young children, and I enjoyed the friendships with my coworkers. And I really loved telling people, "I'm a teacher." It was a profession I was proud to be a part of, and hope to return to one of these days.
As for my first year? Mixed feelings on that. I was SO stressed out getting my room ready and learning all the teacher lingo (IEP, ODD, TAC, PLC, BD, EMR...there is an acronym for EVERYTHING), and so desperate to be PERFECT, that I had myself worked into a frenzy before the first day even BEGAN. I was also planning my wedding that year, and was driving an hour each way to a school located in a town I'd never even been to.
And then the first day? I was SOBBING by 10:00 a.m. (as soon as my kids left for P.E.). It was utter chaos...I told my kindergarteners to line up and they just wandered around, because they didn't know how, and I was supposed to TEACH them...I came home with bruises on my shins from a student who kicked me when I made him stand respectfully for the pledge...I didn't get through a quarter of the plans I'd so carefully made. I truly just cried my eyes out, knowing I had made a horrible, terrible mistake.
I had wanted to teach 4th grade, and here I was, stuck with FIVE year olds who've NEVER BEEN TO SCHOOL! I wanted to TEACH, and here I was, showing them how to hold their lunch trays, tying shoes, and coloring. And it did not get a lot better...up until Christmas of that first year, I was crying every night and trying to figure out HOW I could get out of my contract. Seriously.
But the year went on, and I had no kids of my own, so I came early and stayed wayyyyy too late, worked on the weekends, and generally worked myself sick. My eyelids used to twitch constantly because I was so tired, and I have never had more illnesses than I did that first year - I succumbed to EVERY germ.
However, I also learned to appreciate what I was doing as a kindergarten teacher...I got them FIRST, before they could be discouraged with school, and could teach them a love for learning. I got hugs every day. I read them great children's literature. I taught them to read. I found fun ways to challenge them. I prepared them (very well, I think!) for a rigorous first grade curriculum.
But by the end of the year? I knew I had made the right decision. I cried and cried on the last day of school. Those kids are in seventh grade now, and a few of those parents from that class still send me Christmas cards, with letters and pictures. I had a connection with that class that I've never had with another class since. They taught ME how to be a good teacher...and let me tell you, they broke me in something GOOD.
Would I want to do it again? In a way, yes. When I think about that first year, what sticks out the most is how I was young, fresh, and idealistic. I knew I was going to "make a difference" in those kids' lives. I didn't yet know about school 'politics', or workroom gossip. I was full of energy, and I put an amazing amount of love and effort into my job that year.
Gosh, I don't know how to keep it short, do I?
Up next: MJD, Mrs. S, Silly Hily, and Keeper of the Cheerios...I have not forgotten you!
6 Comments:
I'd rather you DIDN'T "keep it short," to be honest... it's much more fun this way.
Every kid should be so lucky as to have a teacher like you to start them off.
mrs. s - Thank you!!
cpa mom - How funny...I was getting close to being burned out, after only seven years! I'm thinking librarian would be fun once I've totally had it with the classroom.
i still want to be a teacher... any kind, really, but i really want to be an art teacher. thanks to six years of great teachers, elementary school remains one of the best, happiest times of my life.
your view on kindergarten is great, by the way... kindergarten teachers should see it as their utmost duty to prepare kids for what is to come... to give them a good foundation so they don't get so discouraged in the future.
good job, stacey :)
Don't you dare even think about keeping something like that short. That was a great post. If we lived in the same city and my kids went to your school, I would be honored for you to be their first teacher.
I admire teachers so much but know I could never be one b/c a)I couldn't deal with the politics and b)I couldn't deal with the parents who think their children do no wrong. Oh, and c)I couldn't deal with someone not letting me discipline a child if they needed it. I think that's something that needs to change. But I'll stop there and save everyone from a soap box.
gigi and silly hily - thank you for the kind comments! I miss getting my "pats on the back" from parents, so that was very nice to hear.
gigi - elementary school is one of my fondest memories too. good luck to you if you decide to go into teaching...it's a wonderful thing!
silly hily - I'm with you on the discipline...that was always a major thorn in my side.
Oh my good gravy I soooooo agree with you on all of your loves and hates for teaching. It was like a quick refresher of the good, the bad and the ugly. I am glad you discussed the bad with the good, because otherwise I might start updating my resume. Ha!
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